1
: one that cleaves
especially
: a butcher's implement for cutting animal carcasses into joints or pieces
2
: a prehistoric stone tool having a sharp edge at one end
Examples of cleaver in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Inside, police recovered a large folding knife, a large kitchen knife, and two meat cleavers, Tierney said.
—
Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024
Using the flat side of a cleaver, smash the cucumbers to crack the skin.
—Jing Gao, Saveur, 31 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cleaver 
Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024
Using the flat side of a cleaver, smash the cucumbers to crack the skin.
—Jing Gao, Saveur, 31 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cleaver
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cleaver.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Cleaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleaver. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cleaver
noun
cleav·er
ˈklē-vər 
: a heavy knife with a wide blade
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